Cast spider construction



Feb. 6, 1934. P. M. MILLER CAST SPIDER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 17, 19302 Sheets-Sheet l my 2 M dttornegs Feb. 6. 1934.- P. M. MILLER CASTSPIDER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (IttotnegsPatented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES CAST SPIDER CONSTRUCTION Philip M.Miller, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Miller Devices Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application April 17, 1930. Serial No.445,068

9 Claims.

This invention relates to wheels for motor vehicles, and the primaryobject of the same is to provide a wheel of the cast metal type which isso constructed that a minimum of metal is embodied therein, withoutsacrificing strength necessary to withstand the load stresses to whichit may be subjected, thereby reducing the weight of the wheel to a pointwhere it may be practically used with both light and heavy dutyvehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an all-metal wheelassembly which is of hollow self-ventilating construction throughout,while at the same time being amply reinforced against load stresses andprotected against entrance of dirt, gravel and like foreign particlesinto the hollow wheel body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel for motor vehiclesembodying a cast metal spider member which is particularly constructedto promote ease and economy in manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advan-- tages will become apparentin view of. the following description taken in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in substantially central transverse section of awheel embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in outboard side elevation with the nave coveringmember partly broken away to show the interior nave construction; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in inboard side elevation of a portion ofthe wheel.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the spider member is of the castmetal type and is preferably cast as an integral unit. This member, asshown, comprises a transversely extended hub barrel 5 which at its outerextremity is tapered so as at 6 and provided with screw threads '7.Substantially centrally of the barrel, a plurality of ribs 8 and 9project radially outwardly and merge at their outer ends with theoutboard side of an annular, transversely-extended body wall 10. Betweenthe ribs 8 and 9 fillets 5a are built up on the barrel 5, whichreinforce the structur against torque thrust at this point.

Each alternate rib 9 is provided with a transversely extendedreinforcing rib 9a which at its base is joined to the hub barrel 5 andat its outer extremity is joined to a transversely extended wall 10. Bythis means, the central nave portion is strongly reinforced againstlateral load stresses. While each of the ribs could be provided withsuch reinforcing means, yet to make the wheel as light as possible, eachalternate rib only is provided with this reinforcing structure.

The ribs 8 and 9 preferably project radially such distance as willprovide a large open central nave area which occupies the greaterportion of the wheel diameter, this nave portion being of openspider-like construction which materially reduces the weight of thewheel while at the same time being strengthened against torque thrustand lateral load stresses.

The wall 10 is preferably extended transversely inwardly forsubstantially the entire width of the spider body, and the outboard sideof said wall is projected radially at spaced'po-ints in the form of awall 11 of reduced thickness which forms the outboard Wall of each ofthe spokes of the spider member, said spokes being generally designatedat 12. Between each of the spokes 12, said transversely extended wall 10is arched peripherally as at 13, said arches extending radially andforming the side walls 13a of the spokes 12. By this means,channel-shaped spokes are provided with the open portion of the channelfacing the inboard side of the wheel. The peripheral arches 13'are'alternately spaced with respect to the ribs 8 and 9, while thespokes are in radial alinement with said ribs, thereby providing inefiect a cantilever construction which materially strengthens the wheel.The end of each spoke is preferably bored as at 14 to provide means forreceiving rim-locking members, not shown, which members may be of anyapproved type adapted for this particular type of spider member.

A brake drum 15 is provided and has the web flange 15a thereof clampedagainst the inboard edge of the wall 10 and the side walls 13a of thespokes 12 by means of bolts 16 and lock nuts 17, the outer ends of theribs 8 and 9 at the point where they merge with the wall 10 beingtransversely bored as at 18 to accommodate the bolts 16. At the pointwhere the transverse bolt openings 16 are formed in the metal, the wallex-- tended transversely as at 19 to serve as a spacing block and alsoas a reinforcing means, the transversely extended portion 19 beingcounter-sunk as at 19a to provide a socket for the heads of the bolts16. The transverse wall at the base of each spoke which merges with thearched wall 10 is indicated at 20, said wall being of reduced thicknessas will be noted by observing Fig. 1. By clamping the web 15a of thebrake drum 15 against the inboard side of the spider member, thechannels in the spokes are closed and the entrance of extraneous matterinto the open central portion of the spider body is prevented. Thechannels of the spokes are substantially fully closed when rim-clampingmembers, not shown, are assembled on the ends of the spokes. Suchmembers may be of the type shownv in my copending application Serial No.448,341, filed April 29, 1930.

It will be noted that the entire spider member is of open construction,with the transverse network of reinforcing walls so arranged that thecasting operation is facilitated. The walls of the spider member are, ingeneral, of substantially uniform thickness throughout, with a Viewtoward reducing casting strains at the foundry. The spokes arerelatively short/and present from the exterior an attractive,symmetrical appearance.

The outboard side of the body wall 10 of the spider member is preferablyformed with an annular groove 21, and a nave covering shell generallyindicated at 22 is detachably secured to the end of the hub and has itsedge 22a inturned and seated in said groove, thereby providing a seal atthis point. The shell member 22 is preferably of such diameter as willcover the entire open nave portion of the spider member and has anarched body wall, which at its outboard extremity is preferably formedwith an annular inset or shoulder 23 to accommodate an end cap 24 whichis frictionally engaged over the outer extremity of said shell memberand seated against said shoulder. The outboard face of the shell member22 is preferably formed with a series of openings 25, and in theseopenings the metal of an internally-threaded collar 26 is engaged andturned over against the surrounding metal of the shell 22, as at 26a.The openings 25 serve as sockets for a spanner wrench or analogous toolwhen it is desired to remove the nave covering shell 22. The shell22,'cap 24, and collar 26 may be formed of suitable sheet metal andchrome plated to enhance the appearance of the wheel. The contour of theshell is such as to lend a finished appearance to the wheel and promotesymmetrical lines. It will also be understood that the nave coveringshell, in addition to preventing the entrance of extraneous matter intothe hollow wheel body, also serves as a grease retainer for the hubbarrel 5.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a wheel of thecast metal spider type which is of hollow construction throughout, thecentral nave portion being formed with a ventilating chamber which tendsto rapidly dissipate heat generated while the wheel is in service on theroad, the spider member being economically cast and, due to itsparticular construction, may have its weight reduced to a point wherethe wheel is adaptable for both light and heavy duty vehicles, while atthe same time being strongly reinforced against load stresses while inservice on the road.

It will be understood that certain structural changes and modificationscould be made without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. In a metal wheel for motor vehicles, a free spoked spider memberadapted to be cast as an integral unit and formed with a transverselyextended hub proper, spaced ribs projecting radially from said hubleaving a relatively large open area in the central portion of thespider member, said ribs merging with an annular wall which is formedwith an arched periphery, the wall defining said arches flaring radiallyto provide relatively short spokes which are open to ward the inboardside of the wheel, the spokes being in radial alinement with the ribsand together with the arches forming a cantilever construction whichadds strength-to the wheel, each alternate rib being formed withauxiliary ribs for reinforcing said annular wall, each of said alternatereinforced ribs being formed with transversely extending bolt-receivingportions where theymerge with said wall, and means extending throughsaid portions for securing a brake drum to the spider member.

2. A wheel assembly for motor vehicles comprising a cast metal spidermember of integral construction and formed with a hub barrel and ribswhich project radially from said barrel in spider formation for thegreater portion of the wheel diameter, to thereby reduce the amount ofmetal comprised in the" spider and provide a central ventilatingchamber, said ribs at their outer ends merging into the outboard side ofan annular transversely-extended spoked body wall which is projectedradially in arched formation defining relatively short hollow spokes, abrake drum secured to the inner side of the wheel closing oii theinboard side of the spokes, and a havecovering shell demountably securedto the hub and covering the open central area of the wheel.-"1-'05 3. Awheel assembly for motor vehicles com prising a cast metal spider memberof integral construction and formed with a transverselyextended hubbarrel and a nave portion which is of open spider-like construction forthe great- 119 er portion of the wheel diameter, to thereby reduce theamount of metal comprised in the spider and provide a centralventilating chamber, the spoked body of the spider consisting of atransversely extended 'circumierentially arched wall 115 which is joinedto the ends of said ribs at its outboard side and is formed with aseries of radial projections having rounded, inwardly-turned flangesdefining the spokes of the wheel, a drum member having a reduced webwhich is clampedi'lzo against the inboard side of the spider memberclosing 01? the open sides of said spokes, and a shell connected to theend of the hub barrel and flaring outwardly and covering the open navearea of the spider member.

4. In a metal wheel for motor vehicles, afree spoked spider member ofcast metal adapted to be cast as an integral unit and formed with atransversely-extended hub proper, spaced ribs projecting radially fromsaid hub leaving an open Z nave area for the greater portion of thespider member, to thereby lighten the said member and provide a largecentral ventilating chamber, said ribs merging with an annular wallwhich is extended transversely for the full width of thec1'35 spidermember and is formed with an arched periphery and flared radiallybetween said arches to provide relatively short hollow spokes, a drummember having a reduced web which is clamped against the said annularwall, and a shell detachably secured to the end of the hub and flaringoutwardly and covering the open area of the spider member.

5. In a metal wheel for motor vehicles, a free spoked spider member ofcast metal adapted to be cast as an integral unit and formed with atransversely-extended hub proper, spaced ribs projecting radially fromsaid hub leaving an open nave area for the greater portion of the spidermember to thereby lighten the said member and provide a large centralventilating chamber, said ribs merging with an annular wall which isextended transversely for the full width or" the spider member and isformed with an arched periphery, the wall defining said arches flaringradially to provide relatively short spokes which are open toward theinboard side of the wheel, the spokes being in radial alinement with theribs and together with the arches forming a cantilever constructionwhich adds strength to the wheel, a drum member clamped against thewheel with its web closing the openings in the spokes, and a shellsecured to the end of the hub and flaring outwardly and covering theopen portion of the spider member.

6. In a wheel for motor vehicles, a transversely extended hub havingformed integrally therewith a series of ribs which project radially inspider formation, leaving a relatively large open central nave area forthe greater portion of the wheel diameter, said ribs at their outer endsmerging into an annular wall formed with a series of peripheral archeswhich are extended to form the spokes of the wheel, a combinationgrease-retainer and nave-covering shell assembly having an end wallprovided with an inwardly projecting, interiorly-threaded, hub-engagingmember and an arched side wall which flares outwardly and seats in agroove formed in said annular Wall, and a cap frictionally clamped onthe end of the shell member to complete the symmetrical contour of thelatter.

7. In a wheel for motor vehicles, a transversely extended hub havingformed integrally therewith a series of ribs which project radially inspider formation leaving a relatively large open central area for thegreater portion of the wheel diameter, said ribs at their outer endsmerging into an annular wall formed with a series of hollow peripheralarches which are extended to form the spokes of the wheel, and acombination grease retainer and nave-covering shell assembly mounted onthe outboard side of the wheel, said assembly comprising a hub-engaginggrease retaining member and a nave-covering shell proper formed with asubstantially plane end surface and a surrounding arched outwardlyflaring side wall having its edge seated in a groove formed in the saidannular wheel body wall, the outboard end of said shell being formedwith an annular inset portion and a shoulder, and a cap frictionallyclamped on the end of said shell against said shoulder to complete thesymmetrical contour of the shell member.

8. In a metal wheel for motor vehicles, a spider member formed with atransversely-extended hub barrel and a series of radially-extended ribsmerging into an annular body wall, said ribs being extended to provide arelatively large open central nave area for the greater portion of thewheel diameter and thereby lighten and ventilate the wheel assembly as awhole, said body wall being formed with an annular groove in theoutboard side thereof, and a combination grease-,- retainer andnave-covering shell proper formed with an end wall provided with meansfor engaging the outboard end of the hub barrel and a surroundingoutwardly-flaring side wall having its edge seated in said annulargroove, and a cap fitted on the end of the shell to complete thesymmetrical contour of the latter.

9. A metal wheel assembly for motor vehicles comprising a cast metalspider member formed with a transversely-extended hub barrel and aseries of radially-extended ribs merging into an annular body wall, saidribs being extended to provide a relatively large open central nave areafor th greater portion of the wheel diameter and thereby materiallylighten the wheel spider and ventilate the wheel assembly as a whole,and a combination grease-retainer and nave-covering shell assemblymounted on the outboard side of the spider member, said assemblycomprising a nave-covering shell proper formed with an end wall having asubstantially plane surface which lies over the outer end of the hubbarrel and a surrounding arched outwardly-flaring side wall having itsperipheral edge engaged with the side of the spider body wall, ascrew-threaded ring secured to the end wall of the shell member andengaging the end of the hub to hold the shell assembly in place andprovide a grease-retainer, and a cap frictionally engaged over the outerend of the shell proper and completing the symmetrical contour of theassembly.

PHILIP M. MILLER.

